Toy vehicle



Aug. 25, 1931. M. MOLINARI 1,820,474

TOY VEHICLE Filed May 14, 1930 2 11 1,? 013 3f 'n 'I 3 fE'a/zeleolzam;

anouk Patented Aug. s, l1931 MICHELE MOLINARI, F PEILADELHIA, PENNSYLVANIA TOY VEHICLE Application led May 174, 193C. Serial No. 452,214. i

The object of the invention is t0 provide improved toy vehicles in general, but more particularly in thatt'ypein which a child or small person is able to sit and propel 5 the vehicle eit-her forwardly or rearwardly at will. A f i Another object is to provide in such a vehicle a body portion, one wall of which forms a support for Aand is extended to form the i3 back of a seat for the occupant and driver.

A further object is to provide in such a vehicle a plat-form Vhaving portionsturned downwardly and so cut as to form spac-ed supports and bearing for a pedal-actuated 2f.' crank, which is connected by any suitable means to and is operative to drive or rotate the axle upon which the rearV wheels are mounted.

Still another object is toprovide a novel ai. steering means for altering Vthe'angular relation of the forward wheels at will, and to a degreev combine this steering mechanism with that portion of the vehicle platform which rotatably supports said pedal-actuated crank.

Vith these and other objects in mind, the

of construction and operation, which are fully brought out in the following Adescription, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whicheFig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of avehicle embodying one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan vi-ew of such vehicle;.Fig. Bis a section on the line 3 3 of Fig.` 2; and Fig. fl `is a fragmentary section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Y

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is shown as comprising a platform 1, upon the rear portion of which is mounted a hollow body of any desired size and shape, but in the present instance, comprising oppositelyr positioned side walls 2, a rear wall 3, and a forward wall 4*, which is extended upwardly and slightly yrearwardly to form a back 5 of a'seat 6. The seat 6 itself comprises a substantially flat member, which at its rear comprises a downwardly extending flange 7,A secured 4to the forward body wall 4, and 'forwardly depends downwardly to form a supporting portion 8, which its lower end merges into a flange 9, which bears against the upper surface of said platform.` A air of angle rods or barsarejpro# f vided as races, to partiallyl supportv and maintain a predetermined angular relation between the back v5 andseat 6, each of these rods or bars comprising a lforward portion 10 which is secured to saidseat, and an upperl substantially horizontal portion 11 secured in any. desired manner to the back 5, and carrying any desired shape of hand grips 12.

Forward of this seatv the platform 1 is pri vided with cutout port-ions 13, the material l of which is bent downwardly to form spaced parallel flanges or brackets 14, each beingr provided with a recess 15 which opens downwardly and which recesses are inl alignment and cooperate to form bearings for a crank 16,` having a central offset portion 17 and angularly disposed terminal portions 18 carrying pedals 19. This crank is operativelyv secured in the bearingy recesses 15 by any suitable means, such for instance as the U-shaped members 20, the upper end portions of which are secured by bolts or rivets 21v actuation of the pedals 19 in their lrespective circular ypaths effects a rotation of the driving wheels 24 ^and a consequent propulsion ofthe vehicle either forwardly or rearwardly as may be desired"l f u Extending downwardly from the. forward portion of said platform is Aa bracket 27, through which extends a king pin 28, the lower freely extending end portion ofwhich latter carries a member 29 which forms a support for the transversely extending forward axle 80, upon the opposite ends of which are rotatably carried the steering wheels 31.

The member 29, adjacent to one transverse end portion, is pivotally connected at 32 through a link or strap 33 with a radius bar 34, secured in turn to the lower end portion 5 of a steering,- shaft 35, provided upon its uppermost end portion with a steering wheel 36, Which is readily accessible to the driver when normally occupying; the seat 6. Obviously, this steering shaft may be inclined 10 rearwardly, instead of extending` vertically, if such is desire l, and may also be incased within a tube 37, the lower portion of which is enlarged at 38 to form a bearing contact and means for securing the same to the upper 15 surface of the platform l, while extending into a recess 39 in the lower portion of said tube is a bushing' 40, which also extends through the platform, and upon its lower end is provided with a radially enlarged head l-l 26 for securing it to the under surface oE the platform.

With this construction there is provided a vehicle which is both inexpensive to construct and efficient in its operation, affording a child 25 a toy vehicle which in reality resembles in many ways a miniature automobile, or similar vehicle for adult use, and it is to be noted that numerous alterations may be made in the details ot its structure withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention in its bread aspect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Pat` ent of the United States is 37; l. A toy vehicle, comprisinp,` 'plattform having an aperture, a tubular bushing extendingv through said aperture and havingv a head secured to the under side et' said platform, a steeringl column extending through 4 said bushing, and a tubular casino; surroundH ingr said column and havine an e roed lewer end portion containing` an enlargement `oi: its bore to receive the tree end of said bushing.

2. A toy vehicle, comprising' a platform havingf an aperture. a tubular bushing' en* tending through said aperture and having; head secured to the under side of said platform, a steeringl column extending through said bushing, a tubular casing surrounding; said column and having an enlarged lower end portion containing an enlargement ot its bore to receive the Yfree end of said bushing, a radius rod carried by the depending;- end portion of said column, steering wheels for said vehicle, and a memberconnecting,` said rod to said wheels to alter the angular posi tion of the latter in accordance with that of said column.

6 In testimony whereof l have ailired my signature.

MICHELE ll/lOLlNARla 

